Improvement in corn-cultivators



P. T. VERHAREN.

Corn-Cultivator.

No. 209,527. Patented Oct. 29', 1878.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK T. VERHAREN, OF VINTON, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT I'N CO RN-CULTIVATO RS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 209.527, dated October29, 1878; application filed August 4, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F. T. VERHAREN, of Vinton, in the county of Benton,and in the State of Iowa, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Corn-Cultivators and do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, making a part of thisspecification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my improveddevice when in use. Fig. 2 is a like View of the same when arranged forpassage to or from the field. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the devicesemployed for connecting the plowbeam and draft-bar with each other andthe axle. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the same upon line 00 as ofFig. 3; and Figs. 5 and 6 are respectivelylongitudinal and transversesections of the connecting-joint between the axlearms and frame.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of thefigures.

The design of my invention is to increase the efficiency and ease ofoperation of cornoultivators; and to this end it consists, principally,in the means employed for connecting the axle-arms to or with the frameof the machine, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafterspecified.

It consists, further, in the means employed for connecting the plow-beamand draft-bars with each other and with the axle arm, and for renderingthe former laterally and vertically adjustable, substantially as and forthe purpose hereinafter shown.

It consists, finally, in the construction and combination of the variousportions of the implement, substantially as and for the purposehereinafter specified.

In the annexed drawing, A represents the pole of my device, which at ornear its rear end is secured to or upon a metal bar, B, that has abouttwo-thirds the usual length of an axle. r

J ournaled upon each end of the bar B is a sleeve, 0, from which extendsdownward and then outward an axle-arm, G, that has journaled upon itsouter end a ground-wheel, D, of usual form. 1

For reasons hereinafter given it is necessary that the sleeve 0 shouldhave a certain degree of motion upon the bar B, so as to permit theaxle-arm G to swing in front and in rear of said bar. This result issecured by cutting a slot, 0, from front to rear within and through theupper side at the longitudinal center of the sleeve 0, and securingwithin such slot one nd of a bar, E, by means of a screw, F, whichpasses downward through said bar E and has its threaded end containedwithin the bar B. The bar E has such width as to cause it to looselyfill the slot 0 laterally, while the latter has such length as to permitthe sleeve 0 to have a certain degree of rotation before its endsimpinge against the lower side of said bar E and arrest such motion.From the bar B each bar E extends forward and inward and is connected toor with the pole A, said bars thus operating as braces or hounds.

Journaled upon the horizontal portion of each axle-arm O is a sleeve, G,which at its front side, at its ends, is provided with two ears, g, thathave the form in side elevation shown in Fig. 4, while at itsrear sidesaid sleeve has attached a plate, g, which, as shown in plan view inFig. 3, extends horizontally between its ends, and has a width fromfront to rear equal to about one-half its length. Within the plate 9 isprovided a number of vertical holes, 9, which receive a bolt, E, thatpasses through the end of a plow-beam, I, of ordinary construct-ion, andoperates to connect said parts together and to form a pivotal bearingfor said plow-beam, upon which the same may move in a horizontal plane.By changing the bolt H from one hole 9 to either of the others,laterally, the position of the plow-beam I with relation to the otherplow-beam may be varied at will.

The ears 9 are each provided with a number of horizontal openings, 9',which receive a bolt, K, that connects therewith the ends of a V-shapeddraft-bar, L, and serves as a pivotal bearing, upon which said bar movesin a vertical plane.

To the forward end of the draftbar L is connected a single-tree, M,which enables a horse to be attached to said bar. By chang ing the boltK to higher or lower opening, g', within the ears g, the depth of theplow within the ground will be correspondingly varied.

By means of the connection between the axle-arm O and the frame of theimplement a certain amount of motion in a line with the draft is allowedto each plow independent of the movement of the opposite plow, inconsequence of which each horse is caused to perform only his own shareof the work and cannot be compelled to draw the plow of the oppositehorse.

In order that the plows may be prevented from dragging upon the groundwhile passing to or from the field a bar, N, is secured within andprojects rearward from each axle-arm 0, near its upper end, and at itsrear end is provided with a laterally-outward extending hook, at, uponwhich may be suspended the plowbeam, as shown in Fig. 5.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, whatI claim as new 1s- 1. As a means for connecting the axle-arm O with andgiving to the same a certain degree of motion upon the frame-bar B, thesleeve 0, provided with the slot 0, the bracehar E, and the screw F,said parts being complow-beam I, the sleeve G, provided with the plateg, having vertical openings g, the ears g, provided with. horizontalopenings 9', and

the bolts H and K, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. As an improvement in wheel-cultivators, the pole A, frame-bar B,axle-arm G, sleeves 0, having the slots 0, ground-wheels D, bracebars E,screws F, sleeves G, having the ears 9, plates 9, and openings g and g,plowbeam I, draw-bar L, bolts H and K, and hooked bar N n, allconstructed and comhin ed to operate in the manner and for the purposesubstantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this30th day of July, 1877.

FRANK T. VERHAREN.

Witnesses:

F. G. RAY, W. A. MATTHEWS.

